Joan Schweighardt interviews Faye Rapaport DesPres about her children's book series featuring stray cats.

Books We Loved in Dec. 2021, by Jenny Bayliss, Jean Meltzer, and Jinny Webber

Joan Schweighardt discusses character development through interviews as preparation for writing a novel.

The nights are getting longer, the days colder, and the holidays fast approaching. All good reasons for stocking up on some great books....

We were thrilled to have the chance to interview G.P. Gottlieb, a true renaissance woman, for our October Spotlight feature. G.P. is a...

Books We Loved in October 2021, by Amy Bloom, Ilene Schneider, and Rowenna Miller

A couple of months ago, we discussed getting into character when you are writing a novel in the third person—whether it reflects one...

Lauren Layne, To Sir, with Love (Gallery Books, 2021) I was sort of angry when I read the synopsis for To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne....

Jordan Rosenfeld is receptive to inspiration but knows how to work without it when she has to. She can build out a plot step by step, but...

As we approach the last full month of summer (and where did those last two months go?), we still have time for long, lazy days of...

With this issue of our online newsletter, we’re starting a new feature called “Writing Tips.” If you’ve always dreamed of producing your...

Linda Browning, It Otter Be a Crime (Amazon, 2021) If you enjoyed the Emmy-award-winning The Golden Girls TV series back in the day, then...

Donna Pedace discovered her literary talents on the heels of several already engaging and colorful careers. But rather than write a novel...

Leigh Bardugo, Shadow and Bone (Henry Holt, 2021) I read Shadow and Bone after watching the fantasy Netflix series of the same name. It’s...

What to do when the Muse takes a break? Joan Schweighardt has thoughts on this question.

Chang-Rae Lee, My Year Abroad (Riverhead Books, 2021) My Year Abroad is divided into chapters describing narrator Tiller Bardmon’s life...

Linda S. Browning had to wait for retirement to start writing novels, but she is making up for lost time with eleven well-received books...

Anne Louise Bannon, Death of the Zanjero (Healcroft House, 2018) It’s 1870, and Maddie Wilcox, a young widow supporting herself by...

Nina Bocci, The Ingredients of You and Me (Gallery Books, 2020) Miscommunication is a commonly used plot device in romance novels, and if...

We’re pleased to introduce you to Phyllis Skoy, whose sincere interest in other people led her to a successful career as a psychoanalyst...